brown



(No Model.) s sheets-sheet 1.

A. B. BROWN.

STEERING VBSSBLS. No. 568,736. Patented Oct. 6,- 1896.

V- NoModeL 5 sheets-.speen 2.

A. B. BROWN.

STEERING VESSELS. No. 668,736. Y Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

' WITNESSES: INVENTOR @fw/Ml ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 vShams-Sheet; 3.

^ A. B. BROWN.

STEERING VBSSELS. No. 568,736. Patented'Oot. 6, 1.896.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 S--heets-Sheet 4,

' A. B. BROWN.

.STEERING VBSSELS.

No. 568,736.` Patented 001;. 6, 1896-.

i j, Y

a 20 Y Y j y lNvENToR ATTORNEY` (No Model.) *y l Sheets-Sheet 5.

- A.y B. BROWN.

STEERING VBSSBLS. No. 568,736. y Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

WITNESSE-Svl INVENTOR g (fw I l BY ' ATTORNEY me uamuseasks cu.Mora-lumai. wlsmnmow, n. c

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ATENT ANDREV B. BROWN, OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.

STEERING vEssELs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,736, dated October6, 1896.

Application led November 8, l895. Serial No. 568,259. (No modeLlPatented in England October 9, 1888,N0.14,456.

To all whom, it nwty concern:

Be itknown that I, ANDREW BErrs BROWN, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Edinburgh, in the county of Mid-Lothian, Scotland,have invented a new and useful rlelemotor Apparatus for OperatingSteering Machinery and foret-her Purposes, (for which l have obtainedLetters Patentin Great Britain, No. 14,456, bearing date October 9,1888,) which invention is fully set forth and illustrated in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to transmit movements from a distance,by means of hydraulic power, to steering, telegraphing, indicating, andother analogous apparatus.

As the steering-engines of a vessel are frequently located in closeproximity to the ru dder, while the steering-wheel is located on abridge nearer to the bow of the vessel, some connection must be providedbetween said steering-wheel and the valves of said engine, and acomplicated arrangement of shafting and gearing has heretofore been usedfor this purpose. By .my invention herein described the inconveniencesand difficulties attendant upon the use of such mechanism is avoided,and a simple hydraulic connection is established between thesteering-wheel and the valve of the steering-engine, which'is readilyand certainly operated.

The invention will iirst be described in detail and then set forth inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general view in elevation ofa transmitting and receiving apparatus constituting a hydraulictelemotor embodying my invention, several of the parts being shown insection. Fig. 2 shows in elevation a modilied form of transmittingapparatus having combined therewith an apparatus for indicating theposition 4of the rudder. Fig. 8 shows in horizontal section a detail ofconstruction shown in Fig. 2 and hereinafter described. Fig. a is a sideelevation ofFig. 2, looking to the left. Fig. 5 shows in verticalsection, enlarged, a portion of the transmitting apparatus illustratedin Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view in plan of the transmitting portion of 'anapparatus employed to indicate the position of the rudder. Fig. 7 is anend elevation of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section, of amodiied form of hydraulic telemotor embodying my invention.

vIn said ligures the several parts are respectively indicated byreference letters and numbers, as follows:

Referring first to Fig. 1, the letter A indicates a steering-wheellocated on the bridge of the vessel or at any other convenient point andmounted upon a shaft ct. Said shaft eX- tends through a stuffing-boxinto a casing or enlarged portion C2, formed on a transmitting-cylinderC and is provided with a pinion 11, which meshes with a rack 12, formedupon or attached to the surface of a piston or plunger B, located withinsaid transmitting-cylinder, the ends of said piston being suitablypacked.

Connected to the ends of the transmittingcylinder C are two pipes D D2,which lead to the place where the steering-engine is located and thereconnect with the receiving apparatus. Said receiving apparatus consistsof a cylinder or cylinders E E2, provided with pistons or plunger-s FF2, connected by a bar G. The pipe D fromv the transmitter leads intothe cylinder E, and the pipe D2 leads into the cylinder E2.

The transmitting-cylinder C, the pipes D D2, and the receiving-cylindersE E2 are kept full of liquid by means of a pipe L, leading from areservoir or tank L4 and provided with inletch'ecir-wtlvesm. The pipes DD2 are provided with safet f-v- L5 L, suitably loaded by springs,sothat, should the internal pressure become excessive from any cause,

said valves will open and re' j. the pressure by establis nngcommunication with the reservoir L4 through the pipes L2.

Connected to the bar G, which unites the two pistons F F2 of thereceiver, is one end of a rocker arm or lever H, the other end of whichis secured to a rock-shaft 13, carried in a frame I, mounted upon andsecured to the receiving-cylinders E E2. Secured to said rock-shaft alsois one end of a small rocker arm or lever H', to the other end of whichis connectedv a rod H2, leading to thevalve-gear of the steering -engine(Not shown.) A rocker arm or lever J has one of its ends secured totheshaft 13, its other end being connected to spring-rods j. Spiral springsK' K2 surround said rods between cross-heads 7c,

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supported from arms i of the frame l. Said springs act upon the arm orlever J so as to move it to its central posit-ion when it is free tomove. )Vlienever the steering-wheel A is turned so as to more thetransmitti11g-piston B into its middle position, a communication isopened, as below described, between the two ends of thetransmitting-cylinder C, and then, if the correcting arm or lever J,connected to the pistons F F2 of the receiver, has not also been broughtto its central position, the sprin K K2, acting upon said lever, willforce it and the receiving-pistons FJ F2 into their central positions.The liquid in the pipes D D2 and in the cylinders C E FP will thus befree to adjust itself by moving from one cylinder to another, as may berequired. The parts will in this way be brought into exactcorrespondence every time the steering-wheel A is turned to its middleposition. Various devices may be used for effecting communicationbetween the ends of the transmitting-cylinder C. In Fig. 1 the pistonBis shown provided with passage-ways b, extending from its ends toseparate ports in one side of the piston at its middle, said portsopening into a cavity 1l, formed in the sides of the cylinder C. )Vhenthe piston is in its middle position, communication will thus beestablished between the ends of the cylinder. ln Figs. 2 and 5communication is effected by means of pipes 15 16, connected to astop-cock, the plug 17 of which has fixed upon it a forked piece 1S,operated bya tooth or projection 19, formed upon or attached to thepiston B at the middle of a groove 20, formed along the piston. Thestop-cock plug 17 is opened when the forked piece 18 is moved to itsmiddle position by the pistontooth 19, but is instantlyclosed by theaction of said tooth when the piston is moved from its middle positionin eitherdirection by the steering-wheel A.

In Figs. 2, 3, and i a transmitting apparatus is shown having combinedtherewith an apparatus for indicating the position of the rudder, allthe parts being carried by a pedestal or standard M. The filling-valveL/ L2 and the relief-valves L5 L6 are shown in these figures attached tothe ends of the transmitting-cylinder C, but the supply-pipe L andreservoir L4 are not shown. The pipes DD2 lead to thereceiving-cylinders E E2 in the manner shown in Fig. l. Thesteering-wheel shaft- A is connected by means of bevelwheels A2 with avertical shaft A3, which may be actuated, when desired, by asteeringwheel placed at a higher level. The shaft A:l is provided withscrew-threads adapted to raise and lower a block V2, which is providedwith an internal helix acting upon a helical spindle V, to which isfixed an index-arm V. By means of this construction the index-arm V willindicate the position in which the rudder should be placed bythemovement of the steering-wheel A when the apparatus operates correctly.

For showing the actual position of the rudder the apparatus now to bedescribed is provided. Mounted upon suitable brackets or frames carriedby the standard M, Fig. 2, is a lou g cylinder or pair of cylinders E1E, provided with filling check-valves L7 Lg and relief check-valves L9L1". )Vithin the cylinders E4 E, which may be called theindicator-receiving cylinders, is a long piston E", provided at itscentral portion with a rack r, which meshes with a toothed sector U,secured to a shaft U', within a casing C", formed upon or secured to thecylinders E4 E, Figs. 2 and 3. The shaft U passes upward out of thecasing Ci and has secured to itan index-arm U2 to indicate the positionof the rudder. Leading from the cylinders E E5 are two pipes DSD, whichlead to the place where the steering apparatus is located and thereconnect with the indicator-transmitting cylinders C5 C, (shown in Figs.G and 7,) which are similar to the indicator-receiving cylinders E E,(shown in Fig. 2,) and are provided with a piston having a rack meshingwith a toothed sector (similar to the sector U, Fig. 3) secured to ashaft AA1 within a casing C7. Connected to the upper end of the shaft A4is one end of a lever T', the other end of said lever being connected toa lever T, operaied in any suitable manner by the movements of therudder.

The cylinders C5 C'i may be supplied with fluid through an inlet-pipe p,leading from any suitable source of supply, and filling,r and reliefvalves similar to those shown in Fig. 2 may be provided. Forestablishing communication between the cylinders C5 C"5 pipes 5 16 areprovided, having a stop-cock 17, the plug of which is operated by aspindle s, provided on its ends with a forked piece 18, acted upon by atooth 1U on the lever T. By this construction the ends of theindicatortransmitting cylinders C5 C will be put into communication witheach other whenever the lever T and the rudder are in their centralpositions, and the piston E in the indicatorreceiving cylinders El E5will also thus be allowed to assume its central position, the centeringof this latter piston being accomplished by helical springs (not shown)applied in the cylinders themselves in a manner to act on the pistonwhen moved from the middle position.

The operation of the complete telemotor apparatus constructed as shownin Figs. 1 to 7 is as follows: If the hand-wheel A of the transmittingapparatus be revolved in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 1 and 2, bythe helmsman on the bridge, said movement will, through theinstrumentality of the pinion 11 and the rack 12 on the piston B, movesaid piston to the left within the transmitting-cylinder C. As saidpiston moves it will expel through the pipe D the fluid contained in thecylinder C at the left-hand end of said piston, and said fluid will thenrush through said pipe to the receiving apparatus, located near thesteering-engine, and will enter the cylinder E of said receiver at theleft of the piston F'. Said piston will thus be forced to the right,carrying with it the cross-bar G and piston F2, and imparting motion bymeans of the rocker arm or lever H to the rock-shaft 13. This movementof the shaft 13 will move the rocker arm o1' lever` J and compress thespring K2, and Will also move the rocker arm or lever H', thus impartingto the valve-rod H2, connected to said lever, the necessary motion tocause the engine to move the rudder the desired distance. If thehand-Wheel A be moved in the direction opposite to the arrow, it isobvious that the operations of the several parts Will be the reverse ofthose just described. The position which the movement of the hand-wheelA should cause the rudder to assume, if the apparatus be in properworking condition, will be indicated to the helmsma'n by theindicator-arm V, Fig. 4, which, when the steering-Wheel A is revolved,will loe moved through the instrumentality of the bevel-wheels A2, shaftA3, block V2, and helical spindle V. The position actually assumed bythe rudderwill be indicated to the helmsman by the indicator-arm U2,Fig. 4, which will be moved in th`e-fol-loivingA manner: As the ruddermoves by the action of the steering-engine it will move the lever T,Figs. 6 and 7, which, by means of the lever T', connected thereto, willvibrate the shaft A4, and thus, by means of the toothed sector withinthe casing 07,'movc the piston in the indicating-transmitting cylinderC5 C6 to one side or the other. This movement of said piston will expela current of iiuid through one of the pipes D3 D4 to theindicator-receivin g cylinders E4 E5, located at the steering-station,Figs. 2 and 4, and the piston E6 of said cylinders will thus be moved.As said piston moves it will, by means of the rack r thereon, move thesector U and vibrate the shaft U', to which said sector is secured. Asthe shaft U' rotates it will move the indicator arm U2, secured thereto,thus indicating to the helmsman the position in which the rudder hasbeen placed by the action of the steering-engines.

In the modified formof telemotor apparatus shown in Fig. 8 acomparatively short transmitting-cylinder C' is employed, having apiston B. The piston-rod W of said piston extends through a stufling-boxand is provided on its outer portion with screw-threads acted upon byinternal screw-threads on the hub of the steering-Wheel A,which ismounted on said rod WV, said hub forming a nut on said rod. Thereceiving-cylinderF. is also shortened and is provided with a piston F.The rod X of said piston passes out of said cylinder through astuffing-box and may be connected to the controlling-valve of thesteering-engine or other apparatus. Springs K2 K3 are located in thecylinder Eto act in opposite directions on the piston F and center thesame. To allow of suchv centering, the transmitting-cylinder C isprovided with a passage 14, which establishes communication betw`e theends of said cylinder when the pistonfB is in its middle position.arrangement of supply pipes and valves and connecting-pipes is the sameas that shown in Fig. l.

The operation of the apparatus constructed as shown in Fig. 8 is asfollows: If the handwheel A be rotated, such rotation will, by means ofthe screw-threads y on the pistonrod W, cause the piston B in thetransmitting-cylinder C to move in one direction or the other, accordingto the direction in which the wheel A is rotated. As said piston movesit-will expel fluid through one of the pipes D D2 to thereceiving-cylinder E and cause the piston F of said cylinder to move toone side or the other, thus impart-ing the desired motion to thevalve-rod of the steering-engine, to which rod may be connected thepistonrod X. The indicating apparatus shown in the preceding figures, orany other indicating apparatus, may be used in connection with thetransmitter and receiver shown in Fig. 8.

In either form of hydraulic telemotor shown in the drawings, wheneverthe piston of the transmitting-cylinder is moved to its middle vpositionby the hand-wheel A, communication Will be established between ends ofsaid cylinder in the manner above described, and the piston of thereceiving-cylinder will be brought into a corresponding position by theaction of the spring devices, hereinbefore dcscribed, connected to saidpiston. So, also, when the piston in the indicator-transmittingcylinders C5 C6 is in its middle position, communication will beestablished between the ends of said cylinders in the manner abovedescribed, and the piston E6 of the indicator-receiving cylinders E4 E5Will also be brought to its middle position by the springs (not shown)connected thereto. It is obvious that some equivalent device may besubstituted for the spring devices described for centering the pistonsof the receiving apparatus.

I do not coniine myself to the use of the telemotor apparatus hereindescribed in conjunction with a steering-engine, as it is obvious thatsaid apparatus may be employed to operate from a distance othermechanism or machinery, in particular Where motion of an intermittentcharacter is desired. If a steering-engine be employed, such engine maybe of any suitable construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In a hydraulictelemotor apparatus the combination of a receiving-cylinder providedwith a piston; a lever connected to said piston; and means connected tosaid lever for automatically centering said piston.

2. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination with areceiving-cylinder provided with a piston, of a spring` or springs IOOIIO

connected to said piston for autonmtically centering the same.

3. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus the combination of atra11smitting-cylinder provided With a piston; means for establishingcommunication between the ends of said cylinder; a receiving-cylinderprovided with a piston; pipes connecting said cylinders; and meansconnected to the piston of said receiving-cylinder for centering' thesame.

4f. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitting-cylinder provided with a piston; a receiving-cylinderprovided with a piston; pipes connecting said cylinders; and springsconnected to the piston of said receiving-cylinder for automaticallycentering the same.

5. In a hydraulic telemotor a1'1paratus, the combination of areceivi11g-cylinder provided With a piston or plunger; an arm orloversocured to a rock-shaft and connected to said piston;aeorrecting-lever also secured to said shaft; and springs connected tosaid correcting-lever.

6. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitti11g-cylinder provided with a piston; a receivi11g-cylinderprovided with a piston; pipes connecting said cylinders; an arm or leversecured to a rockshaft and connected to the piston of saidreceiving-cylinder; a correcting-lever also secured to said shaft; andsprings connected to said correcting-lever.

7. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitti11g-cylinder provided with a piston; means substantially asdescribed for establishing communication between the ends of saidcylinder; a receivingcylinder provided with a piston; and pipesconnecting said transmitting and receiving cylinders.

8. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitting-cylinder; a pipe connecting the ends of said cylinder; acock or valve located in said pipe and provided with a forked arm orlever; and a piston Within said cylinder provided With a tooth orprojection itting into said forked lever.

t). In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of thefollowing-named parts: a transmitting-cylinder provided with a piston areceiving-cylinder provided with a piston; a reservoir or tank; a pipefor supplying fluid to said tra-nsmitting-cylinder from said tank; pipesconnecting said transmitting and receiving cylinders; and a pipe, orpipes, leading from said connecting-pipes to said tank and provided withspring loaded safetyvalves.

l0. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitting-cylinder provided with a piston or plunger having a rackformed upon or att-ached to its surface within said cylinder; a pinionwithin said cylinder meshing with said rack and mounted upon a shaft; ahand-Wheel secured to said shaft; a receiving-cylinder provided with apiston;

and pipes connecting said receiving and transmitting cylinders.

ll. In a hydraulic telemotorapparatus, the combination of atransmitting-eylinder provided with a piston or plunger having a rackformed upon or attached to its surface within said cylinder; a pinionwithin said cylinder meshing with said rack and mounted upon a shaft; ahand-wheel secured to said shaft; a receiving-cylinder provided with apiston; pipes connecting said transmitting and receiving cylinders; anarm or lever secured to a rock-shaft and connected to the piston of saidreceiving-cylinder; a correcting-lever also secured to said shaft; andsprings connected to said correcting-lever.

l2. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitting-eylinder provided with a piston; mechanism forreciprocating said piston; a receiving-cylinder provided with a piston 5a rod connected to said last-mentioned piston for operating thc va-lvcof a steering-engine; and a separate indicator-cylinder provided with apiston, adapted to be operated by the movement of the rudder.

123. In a hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of transmittingand receiving cylinders; an indicator-transmitting cylinder; anindicator-receiving cylinder; a piston Within said indicator-receivingcylinder provided with. a rack; a toothed sector secured to a shaft andmeshing with said rack; and an index-arm also secured to said shaft, forindicating the angle of the rudder.

ll. Ina hydraulic telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitti11g-cylinder; a receiving-cylinder; pipes connecting saidcylinders; an indicatortransmitting cylinder provided with a pistonoperated by the movement of the rudder; an indicator-receiving cylinderprovided with a piston; pipes conneetin g said cylinders; and anindex-arm operated by the movement of the piston in saidindicator-receiving cylinder.

l5. In ahydraulie telemotor apparatus, the combination of atransmitting-cylinder; areceiving-cylinder; pipes connecting saidcylinders; an indicator-transmitting cylinder provided with a pistonoperated by the movement of the rudder; an ii'ldica-tor-receivingcylinder provided with a piston; pipes connecting said cylinders; anindex-arm operated by the movement of the piston in saidindicator-receiving cylinder; and mechanism substantially as describedfor bringing the pistons of said cylinders into corresponding positions.

lo'. In a hydraulic telemotor appara-tus, the combination of atransmitting-cylinder; a piston provided with a rack upon its surfaceWithin said cylinder; a shaft carrying a pinion in mesh with said rackwithin the cylinder; a hand-Wheel for operating said shaft; a secondshaft connected to said hand-wheel.

shaft by gearing; and an indicating apparatus operated by said secondshaft.

17. In ahydraulic telemotor apparatus, the

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combination of a transmitting-cylinder; a

piston Within said cylinder provided with a shaft; an indicatingapparatus connected to said shaft; a receiving-cylinder provided With apiston for actuating the steering-engine; an indicator-transinittingcylinder provided with a piston operated by the movement of the rudder;an indicator-receiving cylinder; a piston Within saidindicator-receiving cylinder, provided with a rack; a toothed sectorsecured to a shaft and meshing With said rack; and an indicatingapparatus connected to said shaft.

A. B. BROWN.

Witnesses ROBERT J. MACBRIDE, Jr., FREDERICK PIATT.

